Filenews 20 October 2021
In particular, the European Parliament proposes the need for binding targets to reduce the use of pesticides as well as a review of animal welfare standards. Also more land for organic farming and fairer distribution in favour of farmers of the profit that sustainable food production yields.
The EP proposes to overhaul the EU's food systems: healthier food, food security, fair income for farmers, reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
The European Parliament welcomes the farm to fork strategy, stressing the importance of making our diet more sustainable and healthy. This change is necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal – including on climate change, biodiversity, zero pollution and public health.
MEPs stress the need to strengthen sustainability at every stage of the food production chain and recall that all of us, from farmers to consumers, must assume our responsibilities. MEPs also want to ensure that profits from sustainable food production are distributed more fairly in favour of farmers. For this reason, they are asking the European Commission to step up efforts, including by adapting competition rules, in order to strengthen the position of farmers in the production chain.
Some other recommendations of the European Parliament are set out below.
Healthier foods
• Adopt EU recommendations on healthy eating, based on scientific data, including mandatory nutrition labelling on the front of packaging.
• To address the overconsumption of highly processed meat and foods containing a large amount of salt, sugar and fat, including by setting maximum intake levels.
Pesticides and protection of pollinators
• Improve the authorisation procedure for pesticides and better monitor the implementation of relevant decisions in order to protect pollinators and biodiversity more effectively.
• Adopt binding targets for reducing the use of pesticides. Member States should implement the objectives through the CAP Strategic Plans.
Greenhouse gas emissions
• The "FIt for 55" (adjustment package to the 55% target) to set ambitious targets and regulate greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and related land use, including by introducing strict criteria for renewable energy production from biomass.
• To restore and strengthen the natural sinks of carbon dioxide.
Animal welfare
• Establish common indicators for animal welfare, based on scientific data and aiming at a higher level of harmonisation in the EU.
• Evaluate existing EU legislation and investigate whether it needs to be amended.
• To phase out the use of cages in livestock farming in the EU.
• Allow the import of animal products from third countries only if their standards are in line with those of the EU.
Organic farming
• Increase organic farming areas in the EU by 2030
• To take initiatives to stimulate demand, such as purchasing promotion measures, public procurement and fiscal measures.
The resolution was adopted by 452 votes in favour, 170 against and 76 abstentions. The vote took place on Tuesday, with its results announced on Wednesday.
Next steps
The Commission is working on a number of legislative proposals under the Farm to Fork strategy. MEPs stress the need for ex-post scientific impact assessments of all these proposals, and during the debate many criticised the commission's late publication of the relevant report prepared by the Joint Research Centre.
Statements
After the vote, Herbert Dorfmann (ELK, Italy), rapporteur for the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "The responsibility for a more sustainable agriculture lies jointly with farmers and consumers. Our farmers are already making a great effort. That is why, when we ask them, rightly, to further reduce the use of pesticides, fertilisers and antibiotics, we must at the same time provide them with support. Otherwise production will, quite simply, be transported outside the EU. Ensuring the availability of food at reasonable prices must remain a priority."
Anja Hazekamp (Left, Netherlands), rapporteur for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, made the following statements: "The policies currently implemented by the EU promote environmentally damaging agricultural models and open the way to imports of unsustainable products. We propose concrete measures to return the European food production system within the limits allowed by the planet. These measures include boosting food production on a local scale and moving away from intensive livestock farming and monocultures with a high use of pesticides. The adoption of a sustainable food system also determines the future of farmers."
